Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider placed second in the American League Manager of the Year voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, behind Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians. Schneider led the Blue Jays to a successful season with 94 wins and the American League East Division title. He received 10 first-place votes out of 30, totaling 91 points. Vogt, who guided the Guardians to the AL Central crown, secured 17 first-place votes and 113 points, earning him the top spot. The Seattle Mariners’ Dan Wilson was also in contention, receiving two first-place votes and 50 points.
This marked Vogt’s second consecutive year winning the award, while Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy also retained his National League title. Schneider’s team showed significant improvement from the previous season, winning 20 more games than in 2024 and advancing through two playoff rounds before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Notably, ballots were cast before the postseason began. Bobby Cox remains the only Blue Jays manager to have won this prestigious award back in 1985. Schneider’s runner-up finish is the highest for a Toronto skipper since Cito Gaston placed second in 1989. Schneider took over as manager in July 2022 following Charlie Montoyo and recently had his contract’s 2026 option year exercised. Extension negotiations are ongoing, as stated by general manager Ross Atkins during a recent media session.
Schneider, a 45-year-old from Princeton, N.J., has been an integral part of the Toronto organization for over two decades, starting as a player drafted by the Blue Jays in 2002. After retiring in 2007, he transitioned to coaching within the franchise, steadily climbing the ranks from a catching instructor to managing various minor-league teams. His success culminated in leading the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a championship in 2018, earning him the Eastern League Manager of the Year award. Promoted to the major-league coaching staff in 2019 and later to bench coach in 2022, Schneider became the 14th manager in the Blue Jays’ history since their inception in 1977.